LUTV features Coach Bum Phillips

Former Houston Oilers coach and Lamar University alumnus O.A. “Bum” Phillips will be interviewed on the next “LUTV on Fox” episode to premiere at 1:30 p.m.Sunday, July 24.

A Southeast Texas native, Phillips played football and attended Lamar in the 1940s. KBTV Fox 4 sports anchor James Ware conducted the in-depth interview. Ware is also an alumnus of Lamar.

The quarterly television program is produced by the students, alumni, staff and faculty of the Department of Communication. The 30-minute program highlights the people, organizations and departments that have helped Lamar become one of the fastest-growing universities in Texas.

The episode will also feature Audra Gerlach, Lamar's international and graduate studies recruiter, and Thaddeaus Green of Orange, former Student Government Association president, as he reflects about his term in office and time at the university.

Lamar alumni Brittnay Champine of Orange and Josh Yawn of Beaumont are the hosts of “LUTV on Fox.” Beaumont native and recent graduate Steve Junious is a reporter on the episode. The show was edited by student Kyle Brodeur of Bridge City.

Student reporter Lauren Gordon of Beaumont will also be featured on the show.

“It’s great to get the experience to have your work shown at a well known multi-media outlet.Being able to see the finish product when it is aired on Fox 4 will give me a sense of pride in what I have accomplished,” said Gordon.

Under the name LUTV Productions, students, alumni, staff and faculty of the Department of Communication have produced a number of award-winning television commercials, programs and documentaries, such as “Magnolia: A Century of Oil,” “Surviving Rita: Looking Forward,”“LU on The U” and “The Dean’s Corner.”

“‘LUTV on Fox’ is an excellent opportunity for our students to work side by side with alumni, industry professionals and gain practical work experience,” said Gordon Williams, LUTV studio operations manager and producer for “LUTV on Fox.” “Having an opportunity to learn, network and work on award-winning projects helps motivate our students and gives them confidence in their abilities.”

In June 2011, LUTV Productions earned second-place honors from the Press Club of Southeast Texas for “LUTV on Fox” and second place at the Lone Star Awards from the Houston Press Club.

Larry Elliott and O’Brien Stanley, associate professors of communication, are the program’s executive producers.
“I feel that this edition of ‘LUTV on Fox’ shows a wide range of diversity and creativity in our coverage of Lamar University from highlighting students to employees to accomplished alumni.I believe that any Lamar alum would be proud of the work that this student crew put into this show,” said Stanley.

“LUTV on Fox” will air at 1:30 p.m.Sunday, July 24. An encore presentation will be shown at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 7.